Complete Guide to Korean Soups & Stews (40+ Recipes)
Korean soups and stews are warm, nourishing, and deeply comforting—essential on every Korean table. From light everyday soups to hearty, meal-in-a-bowl jjigae, this guide brings you 40+ authentic recipes you can make at home.
In most Korean homes—including mine—a warm bowl of soup or stew is part of everyday life. Sometimes it sits quietly beside the main dish, and other times it is the main dish. Either way, it anchors the meal and brings that unmistakable “home” feeling Koreans love.
Korean soups come in several styles, each with its own personality:
- Guk (국): Light, everyday soups served alongside rice
- Jjigae (찌개): Thick, bold Korean stews that are usually the star of the table
- Tang (탕): Heartier soups made with long-simmered broths
- Jeongol (전골): Shared hot pots cooked with assorted ingredients at the table
- Guksu (국수): Brothy noodle soups made with wheat noodles or knife-cut noodles—simple and comforting for quick meals
- Juk (죽): Creamy Korean porridge made by slowly simmering grains until smooth, gentle, and nourishing
How Koreans Enjoy Soup & Stew
In Korean homes, soup or stew isn’t an occasional comfort—it’s part of the rhythm of daily meals. Light soups like Gyeran Guk or Miyeok Guk show up on repeat, while hearty jjigae and long-simmered tang are saved for weekends, gatherings, or whenever someone needs an extra-cozy meal.
Below, you’ll find the soups and stews I cook most often in my own kitchen. They come together quickly, use simple Korean pantry ingredients, and bring deep umami without fuss. Whether you’re new to Korean cooking or looking to expand your favorites, this list has something for every craving.
If you want to explore even more cozy Korean bowls, you can find them all in my Korean Soups & Stews category.
40+ Korean Soup & Stew Recipes
Guk (Light Soups)
Korean Seaweed Soup (Miyeokguk)
A nourishing bowl of Korean seaweed soup (miyeokguk) made with tender beef and rice water for a clean, savory broth. This comforting birthday soup is a beloved Korean tradition — simple to make, deeply flavorful, and perfect for everyday meals or special occasions.
Korean Beef Radish Soup (Sogogi Muguk)
A clear and comforting Korean beef radish soup (sogogi muguk) made with tender beef, sweet Korean radish, and light umami broth. This simple, nourishing soup is ready in 30 minutes and pairs perfectly with rice and kimchi for a cozy Korean meal.
Easy Tteokguk (Korean Rice Cake Soup)
Tteokguk, a traditional Korean rice cake soup, is made with soft, chewy rice cakes simmered in a clear, flavorful beef and vegetable broth. This comforting dish symbolizes good fortune and is perfect for New Year’s celebrations or cozy meals anytime!
Quick Mandu-guk (Korean Dumpling Soup)
Easy 15-minute mandu-guk, a cozy Korean dumpling soup made with frozen mandu and light homemade broth. Simple, savory, and perfect for New Year or any cold day.
Soybean Sprout Soup with Kimchi (Kimchi Kongnamul-Guk)
Kimchi Kongnamul-guk (Soybean Sprout Soup with Kimchi) is a light, flavorful soup combining crunchy sprouts with tangy kimchi. Low in calories, it's perfect for breakfast or as a hangover cure.
Korean Fish Cake Soup (Odeng Guk)
A cozy Korean fish cake soup (Odeng Guk) simmered in a clear, savory broth with radish and anchovy stock. Light, comforting, and full of authentic street-style flavor.
15-Minute Dried Pollock Soup (Bugeo-guk)
Dried pollock fish is simmered with soybean sprouts and tofu in a flavorful stock to make a light Korean style hangover soup. It takes only 15 minutes to fix this breakfast soup.
Korean Seaweed Egg Drop Soup
Korean-style seaweed egg drop soup is light, flavorful, and easy to make with just a few ingredients. Korean soybean paste (doenjang) adds deep umami, perfect with rice.
Korean Cold Cucumber Soup (Oi Naengguk)
Oi Naengguk is a classic Korean cold cucumber soup. The light and refreshing taste of fresh cucumbers and seaweed in a chilled savory broth is perfect for hot summer days.
Beef and Bean Sprout Soup
Lean beef slices are quickly simmered with bean sprouts in a spicy broth, this beef and bean sprout soup brings a Korean comfort when you need it. serve with rice and kimchi.
Easy Ground Beef Rice Cake Soup
This ground beef rice cake soup recipe is easy and you don't need to make soup stock separately. The soup is still flavorful but only easier to make.
Doenjang Guk (Soybean Paste Soup with Beef and Watercress)
This comforting Korean soybean paste soup (doenjang guk) is made with beef, watercress, and chives. It's flavor is light yet robust, appropriate to enjoy any time of the day.
Korean Turnip Green Soup with Potato
Korean turnip green and potato soup makes is homey and comforting. Korean soybean paste deepens the flavor of broth and makes it delicious to serve with rice.
Jjigae (Korean Stews)
Doenjang Jjigae (Korean Soybean Paste Stew)
Doenjang jjigae (Korean soybean paste stew) is a hearty dish made with fermented soybean paste, tofu, and vegetables in a rich broth. Bold, comforting, and easy to make.
Kimchi Jjigae (Korean Pork Kimchi Stew)
Kimchi jjigae is a bold and tangy Korean stew made with sour kimchi, pork belly, and tofu. Easy, authentic, and perfect with rice on a chilly day.
Sundubu Jjigae (Korean Soft Tofu Stew with Seafood)
A bubbling, spicy Korean soft tofu stew with silken tofu, clams, shrimp, and kimchi in an anchovy-kelp broth. Classic sundubu jjigae made simple at home.
Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew)
Budae Jjigae, Korean Army Stew, is a spicy, hearty fusion of Korean and American flavors. Loaded with Spam, sausage, kimchi, and ramen, it’s the ultimate hot pot to share with family and friends.
Easy Spam Kimchi Jjigae
Spam kimchi jjigae is the easiest kimchi stew you can make. You will only need just a few ingredients to make. Just dump them in a pot and simmer until soft. Serve this comfort stew with rice.
Beef and Tofu Stew in a Skillet
Beef tofu stew in a skillet is a quick, rustic Korean dish. With marbled beef, soft tofu, and zucchini in a spicy seafood broth, it's pure comfort!
Gochujang Jjigae (Spicy Zucchini Stew)
Gochujang jjigae is packed with robust flavor. This popular Korean stew is made with summer zucchini (or squash) and pork. It's on the spicy side but not overly so.
Tomato Kimchi Stew
Tomato gives a flavor twist to the traditional Korean kimchi stew (kimchi jjigae). The tomato sauce in the kimchi stew will brighten up the flavor without tasting it.
Korean Spicy Tuna and Potato Stew
Make this Korean style spicy tuna and potato stew with a canned tuna, potato, and zucchini. It's simple and delicious to serve with rice.
Anchovy Kimchi Stew (Myulchi Kimchi Jjigae)
Kimchi stew with anchovies is a classic Korean southern style kimchi jjigae. This comforting Korean stew requires a long simmering time and uses two different type of oils.
Mackerel Pike Kimchi Stew
Mackerel pike kimchi stew is a popular Korean kimchi jjigae recipe. Adding a can of mackerel pike deepens the taste of kimchi stew.
Tang (Hearty Soups & Bone Broths)
Yukgaejang (Korean Spicy Beef Soup)
Authentic Yukgaejang, a hearty Korean spicy beef soup made with tender brisket, leeks, and chili oil. Bold, comforting, and ready in about 2 hours.
Galbitang (Korean Short Rib Soup)
Galbitang (Korean short rib soup) is a comforting Korean beef soup with tender short ribs, Korean radish, and glass noodles (dangmyeon) in a clear, savory broth. Make it the traditional way on the stovetop or a quicker version in the Instant Pot.
Seolleongtang (Korean Ox Bone Soup)
Traditional Korean seolleongtang, a beef bone soup with a creamy white broth. Made easier with the Instant Pot but just as authentic in flavor.
Dakdoritang (Korean Spicy Chicken Stew)
Easy Dakdoritang recipe made with tender chicken, potatoes, and carrots simmered in a bold gochujang and gochugaru sauce. This Korean spicy chicken stew is hearty, flavorful, and perfect with rice.
Samgyetang (Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup)
Samgyetang is a traditional Korean ginseng chicken soup made with a whole stuffed chicken, glutinous rice, and herbal roots. Light, nourishing, and comforting.
Dakgaejang (Spicy Korean Chicken Soup)
A classic Korean spicy chicken soup made with tender shredded chicken, leeks, and chili oil in a rich, flavorful broth. Light yet deeply satisfying, this homemade dakgaejang is perfect for when you crave warmth and hearty Korean flavors.
Korean Ox Tail Bone Marrow Soup
Korean ox tail bone marrow soup is full of collagen. All you need to do is to add water and simmer for hours. Serve with rice and kimchi.
Korean Crab Stew (kkotgetang)
Fresh crabs makes a delicious seafood stew. This full flavored Korean crab stew is mildly spicy seasoned with Korean pastes. Add shrimp or other seafood you like.
Instant Pot Korean Beef Stew
Cooking Korean beef stew in an instant pot is easy and quick. Beef brisket, leeks, and mushrooms are cooked together in a spicy broth.
Jeongol (Korean Hot Pots)
Korean Beef Bulgogi Hot Pot (Bulgogi Jeongol)
Bulgogi hot pot is a Korean beef hot pot dish with marinated bulgogi meat, a variety of vegetables, and glass noodles in a savory and slightly sweet broth. It is a perfect dish to share with family and friends.
Guksu (Noodle Soups)
Janchi Guksu (Korean Banquet Noodle Soup)
Easy janchi guksu with anchovy broth, somyeon noodles, mung bean sprouts, chives, and fried tofu—a light, comforting noodle soup for any occasion.
20-Minute Kimchi Udon Noodle Soup
Quick and flavorful, this Kimchi Udon Soup recipe combines spicy kimchi with savory dashi and smooth udon for a perfect Korean-Japanese fusion.
Hand Torn Chicken Noodle Soup (Sujebi)
Hand torn noodle soup (sujebi) is Korean version of chicken and dumpling. Potato is added to the simple dumpling and simmered in a savory chicken stock.
Korean Knife Cut Noodle Soup (Kalguksu)
Korean knife cut noodle soup made with chicken (dak kalguksu) is a soul comforting chicken soup of Korea. Korean herb broth makes it very flavorful. This recipe uses homemade noodles but store-bought noodles work fine, too.
Juk (Porridge)
Korean Pumpkin Porridge (Hobakjuk)
Smooth and lightly sweet, this Korean pumpkin porridge (hobakjuk) is made with kabocha and sweet rice. A cozy, creamy dish you can enjoy for breakfast or dessert in just 30 minutes.
Danpatjuk (Korean Sweet Red Bean Soup)
Danpatjuk is a warm, Korean sweet red bean soup, often enjoyed as a dessert. This mildly sweet dish, also known as red bean porridge for its thick texture, is a favorite in winter.
I hope this roundup gives you plenty of cozy Korean bowls to enjoy at home. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick weekday soup or a slow-simmered stew, there’s always something comforting simmering in a Korean kitchen. Happy cooking!
Korean Beef Radish Soup
Korean beef radish soup is often served in winter time in Korea, however, you can enjoy this comforting soup anytime of the year. Gluten-free!
Ingredients
- 3/4 lb beef stewing meat, small chunks
- 1-½ lb Korean radish, peeled and cut into ¼-inch thick bite size pieces
- 1 tsp oil
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 5 cups water
- 1 large piece dried sea kelp (dashima)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp Korean soup soy sauce (gukganjang)
- 1 handful chopped Asian leek or green onion
- pinches salt to taste
- dashes pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oils in a 4 qt soup pot over med-low heat. Add the beef and cook until browned.
- Add radish pieces and toss together with beef. Pour water and add dried sea kelp. Cover with a lid and bring it to boil over med-high heat. When boiling, remove the sea kelp and discard.
- Using a small fine mesh strainer, scoop out scums floating on top. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, covered.
- Add garlic and Korean soup soy sauce or tuna sauce. Add salt to season according to your taste.
- Add the Asian leek or green onion, and pepper. Remove from heat and serve hot with rice and kimchi
Notes
Korean radishes are easily found in most Korean stores. If not available, use daikon radish and add 1 teaspoon of sugar to the soup when simmering.
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